Noel Studio to Host Southeastern Writing Center Association Conference

Since its establishment in 2010, Eastern Kentucky University’s Noel Studio for Academic Creativity has been the subject of almost daily queries from envious college and universities nationwide.

Soon, more than 200 college administrators, faculty members, writing center directors and students from approximately 11 states will converge on the Noel Studio to see first-hand the reason for all the buzz. The occasion is the annual Southeastern Writing Center Association Conference, to be held at the Studio, the surrounding John Grant Crabbe Library and other campus locations Feb. 16-18.

“This is an excellent opportunity for EKU to showcase not only this facility but also welcome some of the leading scholars in the field,” said Dr. Russell Carpenter, director of the Noel Studio and conference chair. “Moving forward, EKU is going to be the standard. This is what other universities are going to want to emulate.”

Consequently, Carpenter added, “Interest has transcended the region and taken on a bit more of a national feel. We’ve set our sights on this being a record-breaking attendance for the conference.”

The Noel Studio embodies EKU’s Quality Enhancement Plan, which calls for the University to develop informed, critical and creative thinkers who communicate effectively. It is nationally unique in the way it integrates services, all in a technologically sophisticated environment, designed to enhance students’ writing, speaking and research skills and inspire individual and collaborative learning.

Last year, the Studio was spotlighted in the cover story for the May issue of University Business magazine, recognized in the August issue of American School & University magazine for its effective design, and featured in the Journal of Learning Spaces.

“This is a chance to showcase what we’re able to do with the Noel Studio,” Carpenter said. “We’re doing something that’s really innovative here.”

The keynote speaker for the three-day conference, which focuses on next-generation writing centers, will be Dr. Cynthia Selfe, humanities distinguished professor in the Department of English at The Ohio State University and author of numerous books and articles on computers and composition. Other featured speakers include Dr. Ellen Schendel, Grand Valley State University, and Dr. Trixie Smith, Michigan State University.

The event will feature dozens of breakout sessions as well as tours of the Noel Studio and demonstrations.

For more information about the conferences or EKU’s Noel Studio, contact Dr. Russell Carpenter at russell.carpenter@eku.edu or 859-622-6229.

Contact Information

Dr. Russell Carpenter
russell.carpenter@eku.edu
859-622-7403

Published on January 05, 2012